EU proposes social media ban for under-13s and safer online accounts for children

Brussels, Belgium. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has outlined plans to ban children under 13 from social media and require online services to create safer accounts for children.

The proposed EU Kids Act would also place parental controls on accounts held by children aged 13 to 15 and introduce restrictions for digital services used by minors.

Proposed protections

Von der Leyen said children were using sophisticated technology that had not been designed with their well-being and development in mind.

She said the EU Kids Act would establish boundaries in the digital world comparable to those applied in everyday life.

Under the proposal, social media and video-sharing platforms, online video games, AI companions and chatbots used by children under 18 would be subject to a list of requirements and prohibitions.

Platform requirements

The measures would ban addictive features, profiling-based recommendation feeds, infinite scroll, reward mechanisms and unsolicited contact from strangers.

AI companions and chatbots would have to be switched off by default for children.

Online platforms would also be required to design algorithms that are safe for children and provide accessible parental controls, as well as tools allowing users to block and mute others.

Legislative process

The proposal must be negotiated by EU countries and the European Parliament in the coming months before it can become law.

The initiative follows similar measures or proposals in Australia, Britain, China, India, Turkey and several EU countries, amid concerns about the effects of Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, Google’s YouTube and ChatGPT on children’s mental health and safety.

Australia’s difficulties enforcing its ban on social media for children under 16 could also indicate challenges for Europe.